/a.tɑ̃dʁ/
Translation
to wait, to expect
Word origin
From Latin attendere ('to stretch towards, to pay attention to'), from ad ('to') and tendere ('to stretch'). The sense shifted from 'to attend to' to 'to wait for'.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- attendere
- English cognates
- attend, tend
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular french-irregular conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | attends | attendais | attendis | attendrai | attendrais |
| tu | attends | attendais | attendis | attendras | attendrais |
| il/elle | attend | attendait | attendit | attendra | attendrait |
| nous | attendons | attendions | attendîmes | attendrons | attendrions |
| vous | attendez | attendiez | attendîtes | attendrez | attendriez |
| ils/elles | attendent | attendaient | attendirent | attendront | attendraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | attende | attendisse |
| tu | attendes | attendisses |
| il/elle | attende | attendît |
| nous | attendions | attendissions |
| vous | attendiez | attendissiez |
| ils/elles | attendent | attendissent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | attends |
| nous | attendons |
| vous | attendez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- attendant
- Past participle
- attendu · attendue · attendus · attendues
Examples
.
We need to wait another hour before leaving.
.
She had already been waiting for her friend for thirty minutes.
J' .
I have been waiting for your reply since yesterday morning.
.
The doctor has been keeping us waiting for nearly an hour.
- , j'.
Wait for me in front of the metro exit, I'm coming.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(24)On a le temps
1 min read · Core 1000
Chez le médecin
3 min read · Core 1000
Cuisiner ensemble
3 min read · Core 1000
La fête surprise
3 min read · Core 1000
Le bus manqué
3 min read · Core 1000
Le coup de téléphone
3 min read · Core 1000
Le dernier train de la nuit
3 min read · Core 1000
Le jour du travail
3 min read · Core 1000
Le nouveau docteur
3 min read · Core 1000
Le premier jour de Clara
3 min read · Core 1000
Perdu en ville
3 min read · Core 1000
Clara trouve sa place
4 min read · Core 1000
Il faut que tu partes
4 min read · Core 5000
Il ne reste que ça
4 min read · Core 5000
Un voyage difficile
4 min read · Core 1000
Une rencontre au marché
4 min read · Core 1000
Dubois fait tout refaire
5 min read · Core 5000
Elle commence à comprendre
5 min read · Core 5000
En rentrant chez elle
5 min read · Core 5000
L'homme dont elle parle
5 min read · Core 5000
Pas devant les clients
5 min read · Core 1000
Qu'il vienne ou non
5 min read · Core 5000
Quand tu auras fini
5 min read · Core 5000
Si j'avais su
5 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(13)Avoiding the Passive in French: on, se and the Active Recast
French Concession Clauses: However It Turns Out
Conjugating French -re Verbs in the Present Tense
Faire causatif: Having Things Done in French
French Imperative: tu, nous, vous Commands and the Three Irregulars
Infinitive or Subjunctive: The French Same-Subject Rule
French Irregular Verbs: The Core Set, the -ir Split and the Patterns That Repeat
French Object Pronouns: me, te, le, la, lui, nous, vous, leur and the Preverbal Position
French Passé Composé: avoir or être + Past Participle and the MRS VANDERTRAMP Set
j'aurais dû, tu aurais pu: French Regrets and Reproaches
Reported Questions and Commands in French
French Verbs with à, de or Nothing Before an Infinitive
The French Passive Voice (la voix passive)
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attendre: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "attendre" (to wait, to expect): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 2.